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However, it is understood that at least one of the party's MPs will leave Parliament at the next election.

Swarbrick is ambitious, saying she not only wants to stand in an Auckland seat but to win one.

"I am really keen to run somewhere where I can actually run to win."

The Greens usually focus most of their energy on the party vote and have only won one electorate seat in their 26-year history.

If she makes it into Parliament, she has her eye on roles in justice, arts and culture, broadcasting, or Treaty issues.

Swarbrick was born and raised in Auckland, and had a short stint living in Papua New Guinea where her father was working as a consultant.

She went to Epsom Girls' Grammar and studied law and arts at the University of Auckland before founding a digital marketing business, which she runs with her partner Alex, and employs one other person.

While studying she worked for student radio station bFM, where she tried and failed numerous times to get Prime Minister John Key on her shows. She has "serious disagreements" with National's policy platform, she says.

Aged 22, Swarbrick is reluctant to be pigeon-holed as a youth politician, but says she will bring a young person's perspective to national politics.

She has a $43,000 student loan, she is locked out of the Auckland housing market, and doesn't own a car.

Having shed her independence, she says the Green Party is part of her long-term future. If she misses out on Parliament next year, she'll likely try again.